Method of cold heading blanks



May 31, 1966 R. 5. FRIEDMAN 3,253,287

METHOD OF GOLD HEADING BLANKS Original Filed Sept. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,27 INVENTOR.

ROBE/Y7 a. FE/E'DMA/V BY iP/C HEY, MEA/EA/A/ Y4 FA El? 6 Tom A7707? ii May 31, 1966 R. ca. FRIEDMAN 3,253,287

METHOD OF GOLD HEADING BLANKS Original Filed Sept. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. E0552? 7 FRIEDMAN BY RIC/1E), NE'NE'N/V YAFARR/NGTON ATTORNEYS y 1966 R. cs. FRIEDMAN 3,253,287

METHOD OF COLD HEADING BLANKS Original Filed Sept. 21. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 25 TOR United States Patent 3,253,287 METHOD OF GOLD HEADING ELANKS Robert G. Friedman, Tifiin, Ohio, assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tifiin, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Qontinuation of application Ser. No. 57,529, Sept. 21, 196i). This application July 2, 1965, Ser. No. 470,346 '7 Claims. (Cl. ltl27) This invention relates to a novel and improved method of cold heading a blank for a bolt, screw, or the like, and is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 57,529, filed September 21, 1960.

Forging or heading machines of the type known as double blow headers have been used to cold form various metal articles. Generally speaking, a double blow header comprises a die block through which round wire or rod stock is fed intermittently, a timed shearing mechanism for shearing off a predetermined length of the stock to provide a blank or workpiece, a transfer mechanism for positioning such blank in front of a forming die, and a header slide carrying two forming tools, a coning tool and a heading tool, which apply successive blows against the blank while the blank is held in the forming die. The header slide is reciprocated toward and away from the forming die, and the two heading tools are mounted on a shifting punch carrier which presents the tools alternately to the blank, so that first the coning tool strikes the blank to gather the stock and then the heading tool strikes the blank to finish the heading operation.

On such machines, two blows are used to permit forming a larger head than could be formed in a single blow, since if the length of stock necessary to provide the desired volume for the head were struck initially by the finish heading tool, the stock would buckle and bend instead of upsetting. Accordingly, the usual coning tool surrounds and confines the outer end of the stock and upsets against the die only a part of the protruding length of the blank, and the second tool then upsets the remaining length. While this permits gathering more stock and the making of the desired size head, it is accompanied by the disadvantage of a re-entrant folding of the metal between the two upsets, producing a weakened plane through the head. The greater the amount of upsetting in the first or coning blow, the greater the amount of reverse folding that occurs, and the weaker the finished head.

In the making of polygonal double-blow heads from ordinary round wire or rod stock, it has been necessary heretofore to upset the stock into an enlargement circular in cross-section with the desired axial length and a diameter slightly greater than the diameter across the corners of the desired finished head, and then cut away the peripheral portion with a polygonal trimming die. This involves a waste of the material trimmed from the head, and also aggravates the weakness from the teentrant folding of the metal, since it is necessary to gather a volume of stock equal to the volume of the finished head plus the volume of the metal trimmed away.

According to the present invention, the entire length of.

stock necessary to provide the desired volume in the finished head is upset in each of two successive flows, first to a form similar to the desired finished head but of smaller cross-section and greater axial length, and second to the desired finished polygonal head without flash or waste.

By upsetting the entire protruding length of the stock in the first blow, fiowing' the metal only in the directions in which it must move to reach the finished shape, and again upsetting the entire volume in the second blow, flowing the metal farther, but only in the same directions 3,253,287 Patented May 31, 1966 in which it moved in the first blow, a finished full-sized polygonal head may be produced without any re-entrant folding or flowing of the metal, without the necessity of a subsequent trimming operation, and without waste.

This operation has been made possible according to the present invention by surrounding the necessary unsupported length of stock, in the first blow of the header,'by a polygonal enclosure similar to the desired polygonal shape of the finished head, but with a diameter across the flats of the polygonal enclosure only slightly greater than the diameter of the round wire stock so as to prevent the stock from buckling and bending, and then upsetting the stock axially. into the polygonal enclosure. The resulting head portion, with an axial length small enough in proportion to its diameter across the flats to upset without buckling, the axial length preferably being not more than 2% times the diameter across the flats, is then upset in the second blow of the header into the desired finished form and dimension by a heading tool having a recess shaped to form the side faces and top face of the finished head.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved method of cold heading which produces a finished polygonal head on a round cross-section blank in a double blow header.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved arrangement in a double blow header which enables the cold forming of a polygonal head on a round cross-section blank in just the two blows of the header.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement for cold forming a polygonal head on round stock which avoids weakening of the head.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement for cold forming a polygonal head on round stock which avoids waste of the stock material and which avoids the need for any subsequent trimming operations on the head.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of two presently-preferred embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view taken transversely through a double blow header which incorporates the present invention, showing the position of the parts during the first forward stroke of the header slide;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts later on in the first stroke of the header slide;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts at the end of the first forward stroke of the header slide;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view showing the position of the parts as the header slide is retracted following its first forward stroke;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the posit-ion of the parts during the second forward stroke of the header slide, at which time the finish punch is positioned for operation against the blank;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view showing the position of the parts at the end of the second forward stroke of the header slide;

FIGURE 7 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the header slide is retracted following its second forward stroke;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary tranverse sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present apparatus, with the header slide moving forward in its first stroke;

FIGURE 9 is a similar view showing the position of the parts at the end of the first forward stroke of the header slide in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE is a similar view showing the position of the parts during the second forward stroke of the header slide, at which time the finish punch is positioned to act on the blank;

FIGURE 11 is a similar view showing the position of the parts at the end of the second forward stroke of the header slide; and

FIGURE 12 is an axial section of a cold-headed blank in accordance with this invention.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-7, the double blow header includes a single workreceiving die formed with a cylindrical bore or cavity. When it is desired to make a bolt with a washer face on the underside of the head, as in the illustrated embodiment, a cylindrical counterbore 22, which is coaxial with the cavity 21, is formed at the front face 23 of the die. A knock-out pin 24 is reciprocably mounted in the die at the back end of the cavity 21. During the double blow heading operation on the workpiece or blank, this pin 24 remains stationary in the die so as to provide a fixed abutment for engagement by the inner end of the blank or workpiece.

The blank 25 is a predetermined length of round rod, which has been sheared from the wire or rod stock by the usual shearing mechanism (not shown) which is part of the double blow header apparatus. After having been sheared off from the rod stock, this blank 25 is positioned by the usual transfer mechanism (not shown) in front of the diecavity 21.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the double blow header includes the usual header slide 26 which is mounted for reciprocation toward and away from the die 20. Shiftably mounted on the header slide is a tool carrier 27, which in turn carries a cone tool and a finish tool for imparting the first and second blows against the blank. The tool carrier is adapted to be shifted to align the two tools alternately with the die cavity 21 during alternate reciprocations of the header slide 26. Any suitable shifting mechanism may be used, preferably that shown in my US. Patent No. 3,031,698, issued May 1, 1962, or that shown in US. Patent No. 1,932,396 to Clouse.

The cone tool is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 28 in FIGURE 1. It comprises a generally sleeve-like member 29 having an enlarged, cylindrical, transverse flange 30 on its front end. The sleeve-like member 29 is slidably mounted in a bushing 31 carried by the tool holder 27. A punch guide 32 is seated in the back end of the bushing 31 behind the back end of the sleeve member 29. The punch guide 32 is stationary with respect to the tool holder 27 at all times. At its back end the sleeve member 29 of the cone tool is formed with a counterbore 33. A coil spring 34 is received in this counterbore and is engaged under compression between the sleeve member 29 and the punch guide 32, biasing the cone tool 28 forward with respect to the tool holder 27.

At its front end the sleeve member 29 carries a punch die 35. The punch die 35 is formed with a lengthwise cavity 36 which is hexagonal in cross-section. At its front end the punch die 35 presents a cylindrical nose 37 which projects beyond the front face of the flange 30 on the sleeve member 29 and which is shaped and dimensioned to be snugly, but slidably, received in the counterbore 22 in the die 20.

A filler or back-up plate 38 is engaged between the back end of the punch die 35 and an internal transverse shoulder 39 formed in the sleeve member 29.

The cone tool also includes a punch 40 which is hexagonal in cross-section and is arranged to be slidably, but snugly, received in the hexagonal cavity 36 in the punch die 35. Approximately midway along its length the punch 40 is formed with an enlarged portion 41, which is positioned to abut against the reduced front end 42 of the punch guide 32. Behind this enlarged portion 41 the punch is formed with a reduced diameter cylindrical stem 43 which extends slidably through the punch guide 32. A knock-out lever 44, which is pivotally mounted on a part 27a of the tool holder 27, is positioned to engage the back end of this stem 4-3, as shown in FIGURE 1, when the cone tool 28 is aligned with the die cavity 21.

The sleeve member 29 in the cone tool is formed with a lengthwise slot 45 in its periphery. A stop pin 46 carried by the tool holder 27 is engaged in this slot. The length of the slot 45 in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the header slide is substantially longer than the corresponding length of the portion of the stop pin 46 which is received in this slot, so that the cone tool 28 is able to slide axially with respect to the tool holder 27 and the header slide 26 by an amount determined by these dimensions of the slot 45 and the stop pin 46. Normally, as shown in FIGURE 1, the spring 34 biases the cone tool 28 forwardly with respect to the tool holder 27.

FIGURE 1 shows the position of the parts during the first forward stroke of the header slide. The inner end of the blank 25 is snugly received in the work-receiving die 26 while its outer end is loosely received in the cavity 36 in the punch die. The outer, or right, end of the blank is engaged by the front end of the punch 40, so that the blank is pushed into the die cavity 21 in response to the forward movement of the header slide 26 in its first stroke.

FIGURE 2 shows the position of the parts later on in the first forward stroke of the header slide, when the cone tool engages the front face 23 of the die 20. At this time the nose 37 on the front end of the punch die 35 is snugly received in the counterbore 22 in the die 20. The inner or left end of the blank 25 engages the knockout pin 24 in the die 20, while its opposite end is engaged by the front end of the punch 40.

Upon continued forward movement of the header slide and the tool holder 27 the punch 40 is caused to move forward into the hexagonal cavity 36 in the punch die 35. At this time the cone tool and the punch die 35 which it carries are held stationary by virtue of their engagement against the fixedly positioned die 20. However, the tool holder 27 and the header slide 26 can continue to move forward by an amount determined by the length of the slot 45. The spring 34 becomes compressed further during this over-travel of the tool holder 27 and the header slide 26 with respect to the cone tool 28. The knock-out lever 44 remains stationary on the tool holder 27 throughout the first forward stroke of the header slide. During the completion of the forward stroke of the header slide (FIGURE 3), the punch 40 upsets the outer, or right, end of the blank 25 and cold forms the latter into a hexagonal cross-section segment 25a which tightly fills the hexagonal cavity 36 in the punch die 35. In this operation, since the blank 25 is of round stock to begin with, the metal in the stock first upsets to a round and contacts tangentially the fiat sides of the punch die cavity 36 which support the stock against buckling. Thereafter the metal in the stock fills in the corners of this die cavity. As a result, the die cavity is rather tightly packed at the end of the upsetting operation.

I have found that a critical factor in the operation which takes place during this first blow, as just described, is that the across-the-flats width of the die cavity 36 in the punch die 35 should not be greater than 1 /2 times, and preferably only 1% times the diameter of the initial blank 25, when the volume of the head is such that a length of stock more than 2% times the diameter must be upset. If this critical dimension is not exceeded, then the blank is restrained against buckling because of the support provided by the flats in the die cavity. Therefore, no re-entrant fold is formed in the upset portion of the blank and the blank proceeds to fill in the corners of the die cavity.

Thus, in the first, or coning, blow of the header the blank is upset into a head segment having the general polygonal shape of the desired finished head, but smaller in cross-section and longer axially. This initial upsetting of the blank from round cross-section into an enlarged segment of the general polygonal shape desired makes possible the final upsetting which takes place in the second blow of the header.

At the completion of the first blow, the header slide 26 is retracted back away from the die 20, During the initial retracting movement of the header slide 26 and the tool holder 27, which moves in unison with it, the front end of the cone tool 28 remains in engagement with the front face 23 of the die 20 due to the urging of the spring 34. However, when the tool holder 27 has retracted a distance determined by the slot 45, the stop pin 46 again couples the cone tool 28 to the tool holder 27, so that upon continued retraction of the header slide the cone tool 28 moves back away from the die 20.

As the header slide starts its retracting motion from forward dead center, the knock-out lever 44 is actuated pivotally relative to the tool holder 27 such that the punch-engaging portion of this lever moves forward at substantially the same rate of speed as the header slide 26 and tool holder 27 are being retracted, so that the punch 40 remains substantially stationary against the end of the upset a until the cone tool 28 has been moved back and stripped from the upset 25a, as shown in FIGURE 4. This knock-out movement of the punch is necessary to disengage the blank from the punch die 35 because of the fact that the hexagonal portion 25a of the blank fills the cavity in the punch die 35 quite snugly. Any suitable mechanism may be used for actuating the lever 44, preferably the mechanism shown in my US. Patent No. 3,031,698, issued May 1, 1962, or US. Patent No. 2,271,257 to J. H. Friedman.

From FIGURE 4 it will be apparent that the blank remains seated in the die 20 during the retraction of the header slide after its first stroke.

Before the second forward stroke of the header slide, the tool carrier 27 is shifted on the header slide 26 so as to move the cone tool 28 out of alignment with the die 21 and move into alignment with the die 21 a finish punch tool for engagement with the blank in the next forward stroke of the header slide, in the position shown in FIGURE 5. At the same time, the tool carrier 27 moves a knock-out lever 44, which is pivoted on a part 27b of the tool carrier 27, to the position shown in FIG- URE 5.

-Referring now to FIGURE 5, the finish punch tool 50 includes a sleeve member 51 having an enlarged flange 52 on its front end. The sleeve member 51 is snugly received in a cylindrical bushing 49 carried by the tool carrier 27.

A punch guide 53 is snugly received in the back end of the bushing 49. At its front end the punch guide 53 is formed with a reduced diameter nose 54 A rigid annular filler plate 55 is engaged between the front of the punch guide 53 and an internal, rearwardly-facing shoulder 56 formed on the finished punch 50. With this arrangement, the finish punch 50 moves as a rigid unit with the header slide 26 and the tool carrier 27.

At its front end the finish tool 56 carries a punch die 57 having a hexagonal die cavity 58 therein. The size of this die cavity 58 determines the size of the finished hex head on the blank. A knock-out pin 59 at its front end presents an enlarged, generally conical head 60 which is snugly, but slidably, disposed in the punch die cavity 58. This head 60 is formed with spaced, forwardly projecting petals 61 at its periphery and a rearwardly curved edge between each pair of neighboring petals to form the rounded edges between the corners on the finished head on the blank.

A hexagonal back-up plate 62 is tightly received in the punch die 57 directly behind the head 60 on the knockout pin 59. This back-up plate is formed with a central, axial bore 63 which slidably receives the shank of the knock-out pin 59. The back-up plate 62 also presents a forwardly facing conical surface 64 which is snugly complementary to the conical back end of the head 60 on the knock-out pin.

Just forward of its rearwardly-facing internal shoulder 56 the sleeve member 51 of the finish punch has a radially inwardly protruding segment 71 formed with a plurality of lengthwise holes 65 and an axial bore 66 which slidably receives the shank of the knock-out pin 59. An annular plate 67, which slidably receives the shank of the knock-out pin 59, is engaged between the front end of this radially inwardly protruding portion 71 of the sleeve member 51 and the back end of the punch die 57 and the backup plate 62 therein.

At the back end of the knock-out pin 59 a larger diameter pin 68 is snugly, but slidably, received in an axial bore 69 in the guide plate 53. The length of the pin 68 is equal to the axial length of the guide plate 53. The back end of this pin 68 is engaged by the knock-out lever 44-, which is pivotally mounted on the tool carrier 27. The front end of the pin 68 engages the back face of a sleeve 72, which is slidably mounted in the annular plate 55. From FIGURE 5 it will be apparent that the axial length of the sleeve 72 is substantially less than the axial length of the plate 55, so that the sleeve 72 is able to slide axially a predetermined distance within the plate 55. This happens when the pin 68 is moved forward by the knockout lever 44, as described in detail hereinafter.

FIGURE 5 shows the position of the parts during the first portion of the forward movement of the header slide 26 in its second stroke. The finish punch 50 and the tool carrier 27 move forward in unison with the header slide 26 at this time.

When the enlarged head 60 on the knockout pin 59 engages the outer end face of the hexagonal, upset portion 25a on the blank 25, during the continued forward movement of the header slide, it causes the hexagonal portion 25a to be upset further to the final hex head shape 25c shown in FIGURE 6. This upsetting action takes place completely within the punch die cavity 58 and the cylindrical counterbore 22 in the die 20. As a result of this action, a cylindrical collar 25b is formed on the blank just forward of thefinished hexagonal head 25c.

I have found that a critical factor in the successful operation. of this embodiment of thepresent invention is that the axial length of the hexagonal segment 25a, which is to be upset in the second blow of the header, should not be more than 2% times the across-the-fiats dimension of the finished hex head 250. This prevents the buckling of the stock as it is being upset to its final shape, which is appreciably shorter axially and larger in cross-section.

During the upsetting of the metal in the second blow of the header, the conical front end face 64 of the backup plate 62, which fits tightly in the punch die 57, supports the enlarged head 60 on the knock-out pin, particularly at the petals 61 thereon which form the chamfer on the corners of the head on the blank. Because of this, the head 66 on the knock-out pin is sealed around its entire periphery and no flash can form.

In both upsetting blows the blank has no tendency to buckle and the upsetting action proceeds in the desired manner, completely avoiding the formation of a re-entrant fold in the upset head. Also, in both blows the upset metal flows in the same direction, the flow which takes place in the second blow being essentially an extension of the flow which occurred in the first blow. The end result is that the head is completely finished in just two blows and has improved strength.

At the completion of the second blow the header slide 26 is again retracted, carrying with it the tool carrier 27 and the finish punch 50. At this time the knock-out lever 44- is operated in its forward stroke to push the pin 68 forward. The pin 68 engages the sleeve 72 and the knock-out pin 59 and forces them forward until the sleeve 72 strikes the radially inwardly protruding rnidportion 71 of the sleeve member 51. This limits the extent to which the knock-out pin 59 can move forward with respect to the finish punch 50. During this movement of the knock-out pin 59 its head 60 pushes the finished hex head 25c on the blank out of the punch die cavity 58 and maintains the blank seated in the cavity 21 in the fixed die 20.

After the header slide 26 has been retracted a sufiicient amount, the knock-out pin 24 in the fixed die is actuated forward to knock the finished blank out of the die cavity 21 therein.

Following this, and before the next forward stroke of the header slide 26, another length of the wire stock is sheared off and is moved into position in front of the die cavity 21, so that in the next forward stroke of the header slide this next blank is upset in the manner shown in FIGURES 1-4.

The headed blank produced by the just-described apparatus and process is suitable as a cap screw whose shank 25 may be threaded up to the finished hex head.

This particular embodiment is particularly suitable where the cross-sectional size of the finished head is to be rather large compared to the original diameter of the blank.

In one suitable practical embodiment of this form of the invention the starting blank is of .270 inch diameter wire, the upset hex head segment 25a after the first blow has an across-the-flats width of about 3.15 inch and the finished hex head 25c (after the second blow) has an across-the-flats width of about .495 inch and an axial length of about .193 inch.

When it is desired to make a bolt with a shank portion adjacent the head having a diameter equal to the over-all diameter of the threads to be formed on the remainder of the shank, it is possible to simplify the apparatus and perform more of the upsetting in the first blow, because larger diameter stock may be used so that a shorter length supplies the necessary volume for the finished head. This is illustrated in the second embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGURES 8-11. The fixed die in the header frame is designated in its entiretly by the reference numeral 80. This die is formed with a cylindrical bore 81 which slidably receives a knock-out pin 82. At its forward end the bore 81 leads into a short frustoconical bore section 83 which is of increasing diameter toward the front of the fixed die, constituting an extrusion throat. At its front end the frusto-conical bore section 83 leads into a cylindrical bore section 85 of larger diameter than the bore 81. A cylindrical counterbore 86 is formed in the front end face 84 of the fixed die when it is desired to form a washer face on the underside of the head.

Prior to the first stroke of the header slide in the apparatus of FIGURE 8, a blank of round bar or wire stock is positioned in front of the cavity 86, 85, 83, 81 in the fixed die 80 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

The header slide 87 carries a shiftable tool holder 88 which, in turn, carries a cone tool designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 89, shown in alignment with the die in FIGURES 8 and 9. The cone tool comprises a sleeve member 90 which is slidably received in a cylindrical bushing 91 carried by the tool holder 88. At the front end the sleeve member has an enlarged transverse flange 92.

A punch guide 93 is seated in the back end of the bushing 91 behind the back end of the sleeve member 90. This punch guide is stationary with respect to the tool holder 88 at all times.

At its back end the sleeve member 90 of the cone tool is formed with a counterbore 94 which loosely receives the reduced diameter front end 95 of the punch guide 93.

A coil spring 96 is received in this counterbore and is engaged under compression between the sleeve member and the punch guide 93, biasing the cone tool 89 forward with respect to the tool holder 88.

At its front end the sleeve member 90 carries a punch die 97. The punch die is formed with a lengthwise cavity 98 which is hexagonal in cross-section. The front end of the punch die 97 is flush with the front end face of the sleeve member 90. The punch die 97 is snugly seated in a complementary recess 99 formed in the sleeve member 90. Between its recess 99 at its front end and its counterbore 94 at its back end the sleeve member 90 presents a radially inwardly protruding, annular portion 100 which extends around an axial opening 101 which joins the cavity 99 to the counterbore 94.

The cone tool also includes a punch 102 which is hexagonal in cross-section and which is arranged to be slidably, but snugly, received in the hexagonal cavity 98 in the punch die 97. As shown in FIGURE 8, the hexagonal front end of the punch extends loosely through the opening 101 and into the cavity in the punch die 97. At its front end the punch may be formed with a shallow recess 103, for a purpose which will be explained herein after.

Approximately midway along its length the punch 102 presents a cylindrical portion 104, and behind that a reduced diameter cylindrical stem 105. The back end of the punch portion 104 is disposed just in front of the reduced diameter front end 95 of the punch guide 93. The smaller diameter stem 105 on the punch is snugly, but slidably, received in an axial bore 106 in the punch guide 93, so that the punch is guided by the punch guide 93. A knock-out lever 107, which is pivotally mounted on a part 88a of the tool holder 88, is positioned to engage the back end of the punch stem 105, as shown in FIG- URE 8, when the cone tool is in alignment with the die.

The sleeve member 90 in the cone tool is formed with a short lengthwise slot 108 in its periphery. A transversely disposed stop pin 109 carried by the tool holder 88 is engaged in this slot. The axial length of this slot determines the distance which the tool holder 88 can move with respect to the cone tool 89, as in the first embodiment of this invention. Normally, as shown in FIGURE 8, the spring 96 biases the cone tool 89 forwardly with respect to the tool holder 88 so that the stop pin 109 engages the back end of the slot 108 in the cone tool.

In this embodiment of the present invention the blank which is cut from round stock initially has a diameter substantially equal to that of the cylindrical bore section 85in the fixed die 80.

Prior to the first forward stroke of the header slide 87, this workpiece W is positioned in front of the cavity in die 80.

As the header slide 87 moves forward in its first stroke, it carries with it the cone tool 89. The punch die 97 moves forward, loosely surrounding the outer, or right, end of the blank W. When the punch 102 carried by the header slide 87 engages the outer end face of the blank W, it begins to slide the blank into the cavity in die 80. The inner end 110 of the blank W is extruded through the extrusion throat 83 of the fixed die cavity and extends into the smaller diameter cylindrical portion 81 of the fixed die cavity. This action continues during the continued forward movement of the header slide 87, until the front end of the workpiece W engages the now fixedly positioned knock-out pin 82 in the die 80. The condition of the parts at this time is shown in FIGURE 8.

As the header slide 87 continues to move forward, carrying with it the cone tool 89, the outer end portion 111 of the workpiece W is upset so as to fill the hexagonal cavity 98 in the punch die 97 and also to fill the cylindrical counterbore 86 in the front end of the fixed die 80. When the unsupported length 111 of the blank approaches or exceeds slightly the critical limits of this 9 embodiment, it is preferable to include the recess 103 in the front end of the punch 102, so that the portion 111 of the workpiece which is being upset is supported from both ends.

In this upsetting operation, since the blank W is of round stock to begin with, the metal first-upsets to a round and contacts tangentially the flat sides of the punch die cavity 98, and thereafter the metal fills the corners of this die cavity and tightly packs this die cavity.

In this second embodiment of the present invention, I have found that a critical factor in its operation during the first blow of the double blow header is that the acrossthe-fiats width of the hexagonal cavity 98 in the punch die should be not greater than 1% times the diameter of the initial blank W. As in the first-described embodiment, the blank is restrained against buckling because of the support provided by the flats in the punch die cavity, so that the upsetting action can continue until the corners in the die cavity are filled.

When the necessary volume to form the finished head can be obtained from an unsupported length of stock not more than 2 /2 times the diameter, and the cavity 98 has a width across-the-flats of no more than 1% times the stock diameter, the metal upsets successfully without folding. However, when the dimensions approach or slightly exceed these limits, perfect upsets can still be obtained by using the recess 103.

The front end of the sleeve member 90 in the cone tool engages the front end face 84 of the fixed 'die 80 before the header slide 87 has completed'its first forward stroke, and before the stock 111 has bulged far enough to contact the flats of the cavity 98. Therefore, upon the continued forward movement of the header slide 87 toward the end of its stroke, the spring 96 becomes compressed further, as shown in FIGURE 9. Also, since the punch 102 is moving in unison with the header slide 87 at this time, the punch moves forward in the punch die cavity 98 to complete the upsetting of the outer end 111 of the workpiece W. This over-travel of the header slide 87 and the punch 102 with respect to the sleeve member 90 is made possible by the lost motion connection provided by the stop pin 109 and the slot 108 in the sleeve member 90.

At the completion of the first forward stroke of the header slide 87, the parts are in the position shown in FIGURE 9. From this figure, it will be apparent that the workpiece W has been cold formed to provide a reduced diameter, round cross-section segment 110 at its inner end, a short, gradually increasing diameter section 112 just forward of the reduced diameter inner end 110, a somewhat longer cylindrical segment 113 joined to the front end of the segment 112, a short, enlarged cylindrical collar 114 seated in the counterbore 86 in the front end of the fixed die, and enlarged hexagonal head segment 115 in the punch die cavity 98, and a rounded, forwardly protruding segment 116 on the outer end face of the hexagonal head segment 115. This protruding segment 116 conforms snugly to the shape of the recess 103 in the front end of the punch 102, while the hexagonal head segment 115 conforms snugly to the punch die cavity 98 and the cylindrical collar 114 conforms snugly to the counterbore 86 in the front end of the fixed die 80.

As the reciprocatory header slide 87 is retracted following its first forward stroke, the spring 96 holds the sleeve member 90 of the cone tool forward against the front end face 84 of the fixed die 80 during the initial rearward movement of the header slide. After lost motion movement of the header slide 87 rearward with respect to the sleeve member 90, as determined by the length of the slot 108, the sleeve member 90 then begins to move rearward away from the fixed die 80. At this time the knock-out lever 107 operates in its forward stroke to force the punch 102 forwardly with respect to the sleeve member 90. This forward movement of the punch 102 ejects the just-formed hexagonal head portion 115 on the workpiece from the punch die 97 and holds the remainder of the workpiece seated in the cavity in the fixed die 80. Thereafter, the punch 102 retracts away from the workpiece, along with the header slide 87 and the sleeve member 90.

Before the second forward stroke of the header slide 87, the tool carrier 88 is shifted to move the cone tool 89 out of alignment with the blank and move the finish punch tool into position for engagement with the blank in the next forward stroke of the header slide. At the same time, the tool carrier 88 positions a knock-out lever 107, which is pivoted on a part 8811 of the tool carrier, to the position shown in FIGURE 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, the tool carrier 88 carries the finish punch, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 121. The finish punch tool includes a sleeve member 122 having an enlarged flange 123 on its front end. The sleeve member 122 is snugly received in a cylindrical bushing 124 carried by the tool holder 88.

At its front end the sleeve member 122 is formed with a cavity 125 in which is seated a punch die 126. The front end of the punch die defines a hexagonal cavity 127 corresponding in size to the finished head on the blank. A fixed hexagonal punch 128 is seated in the punch die presenting a front face 129 with a curvature complementary to the desired curvature of the end of the finished head on the blank. At its corners the punch presents forwardly protruding etals 12% which snugly fill the corners of the punch die cavity to prevent flashing of the blank material and also to produce the beveled corners on the outer end of the finished head.

A rigid backup plate 130 engages the back ends of'the punch die 126 and the punch 128. The sleeve member 122 presents an inwardly protruding shoulder 131 at the back end of cavity 125, against which the plate 130 is seated. Behind this shoulder the sleeve member 122 has a bore 132 which leads into an enlarged counterbore 133. A plate 134 is received in the back end of the bushing 124, engaging the back end of sleeve member 122. Plate 134 is formed with a passage 134a which permits the forward movement of the knock-out lever 107. During the second forward stroke of the header slide 87, the front end of the punch member 128 in the punch die 126 engages the protruding dimple 116 on the outer end of the hex head 115 and the front end of the punch die 126 surrounds the outer end of this hex head. As the header slide continues to move forward the dimple 116 is flattened into the hex head segment and the hex head segment itself is further upset to fill the punch die cavity 127. At the end of the second forward stroke of the header slide the front end,123 of the sleeve member 122 is engaging the front face 84 of the fixed die and the hex head on the workpiece is squeezed between the front face 84 of the fixed die 80, the side walls of the punch die cavity 127, and the rounded front end face 129 of the plug 128 in the punch die cavity.,

Thereafter, the header slide 87 is retracted again, carrying with it the entire finish punch 121, which leaves the blank W seated in the fixed die 80. The knockout lever 107 is actuated at this time, but is ineffective. Its action is notnecessary to maintain the blank seated in the fixed die 80. Then the knockout pin 82 in the fixed die 80 is actuated forward to knock the finished blank W out of the die cavity.

Following this, and before the next forward stroke of the header slide 86, another length of wire stock is sheared off and is moved into position in front of the cavity in the fixed die 80, so that in the next forward stroke of the header slide this next blank is upset in the manner shown in FIGURES 8 and 9.

This second embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable where the finished hex head is to have a I 1 cross-sectional size which is not particularly large compared to the original diameter of the blank. In such situations it is possible to upset the blank in the first blow almost to its final size, which is what takes place in the arrangement shown in FIGURES 8-11.

In one practical embodiment of the second form of the invention, the starting blank is a length of .305 inch diameter wire stock, the across-the-flats width of the upset head segment 115 after the first blow is about .460 inch, and the finished hex head has an across-t-he-fiats width of about .495 inch and an axial length of about .193 inch.

It Will be evident that the second embodiment operates upon essentally the same novel principles as the first, with the blank being upset in the first blow from round crossscction to the general polygonal shape desired in the finished head, while in the second blow the blank is further upset to the final shape, with the metal flowing in the same direction as in the first blow, but farther, in order to complete the cold formation of the head.

In both embodiments the amount of blank material required to make up the finished head is less than if the blank were upset to an enlarged round cross-section and then trimmed to the desired polygonal shape. For this reason, the present invention enables the unsupported length of the blank in the first blow to be shorter, which reduces the likelihood of buckling of this portion of the blank while it is being upset.

The finished blank has superior properties, the polygonal head being quite strong because of the absence of the re-entrant fold produced by the techniques common in the prior art. The finished head on the blank has flow lines throughout which are characteristic of the progressive upsetting of the blank twice in the same direction.

FIGURE 12 illustrates an axial section of a finished bolt blank in accordance with the present invention. The dotted lines in the blank illustrated there represent the flow lines in the blank, as revealed by etching the blank half along the axial section face where the blank was cut in two. paratus and method. As shown in this figure, the fiow lines in the shank or stem portion of this blank are straight and run lengthwise of the blank. In the upset head portion of the blank, the flow lines are curved in the same general direction as the head was upset. Near the axis of the blank the curvature of the flow lines is slight. The flow lines toward the radially outward edge of the head are progressively more curved in a gradual manner. Throughout the blank, and particularly in the head, there are no fiow lines which would tend to weaken the blank appreciably.

While two presently-preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention have been described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various modifications, omissions and refinements which depart from the disclosed embodiments may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the finished head may be square or any other polygonal shape other than hexagonal.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of cold heading bolt blanks comprising positioning a cylindrical piece of stock in a work-receiving die with an end portion projecting from the end thereof, laterally confining said end portion in a uniform crosssectional polygonal die cavity having wall surfaces, laterally supporting the free end of said stock and applying endwise pressure thereto with a tool having an end face with a polygonal periphery closely fitting said die cavity and a centrally located axially extending recess upsetting such end portion to an intermediate polygonal head having a cross-sectional shape substantially the same as the polygonal die cavity, sharply filling the corners adjacent to the end face thereof and a projection on the end face thereof, said wall surfaces being held sta- The blank was produced by the foregoing aptionary with respect to said work-receiving die during at least the final portion of the upsetting, and thereafter, without intermediate upsetting and while said stock remains in said work-receiving die without rotation of such stock about its longitudinal axis, upsetting said intermediate head in a second polygonal die cavity having a uniform cross-section greater than the cross-section of said intermediate head and corners aligned with the corners of said intermediate head thereby forming a finished head, all surfaces of said second polygonal die cavity moving as a unit relative to said work-receiving die during the upsetting therein, the material of said porjection being pressed into said finished head forming a relatively fiat end face thereon by the Walls of said second polygonal die cavity.

2. A method of cold heading bolt blanks comprising positioning a cylindrical piece of stock in a work-receiving die with an end portion projecting from the end thereof, laterally confining said end portion in a uniform crosssectional polygonal die cavity having wall surfaces, and while said end portion is so confined applying endwise pressure thereto upsetting such end portion to an intermediate polygonal head having a shape substantially the same as the polygonal die cavity, said wall surface being held stationary with respect to said work-receiving die during at least the final portion of the upsetting, said upsetting causing material in said end portion to'fiow radially into engagement with said wall surfaces, at least the final portion of the formation of said intermediate head being accomplished by said endwise pressure extending substantially completely across said polygonal die and causing material engaging said wall surfaces to slide therealong, whereby friction resisting such sliding results in a maximum pressure at the end surface of said intermediate head remote from said work-receiving die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners of said intermediate head adjacent said end face, and thereafter, without intermediate upsetting and while said stock remains in said work-receiving die without rotation of such stock about its longitudinal axis, upsetting said intermediate head in a second polygonal die cavity having a uniform cross-section greater than the cross-section of said intermediate head and corners aligned with the corners of said intermediate head, all surfaces of said polygonal die cavity moving as a unit relative to said workreceiving die during the upsetting therein, the upsetting in said second polygonal die causing material of said intermediate head to fiow radially into engagement with the side Wall surfaces of said second polygonal die cavity, the friction of engagement of such material and the side walls of said second polygonal die cavity urging material movement toward said work-receiving die and producing a maximum pressure at the side of the upset adjacent said work-receiving die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners at the end of the upset portion adjacent said work-receiving die.

3. A method of cold heading bolt blanks comprising positioning a cylindrical piece of stock in a work-receiving die with an end portion projection from the end thereof and extruding a portion of pieces of stock within said die to a smaller diameter, laterally confining said end portion in a uniform cross-sectional polygonal die cavity having wall surfaces, and while said end portion is so confined applying endwise pressure thereto upsetting such end portion to an intermediate polygonal head having a shape substantially the same as the polygonal die cavity, said wall surfaces being held stationary with respect to said work-receiving die during at least the final portion of the upsetting, said upsetting causing material in said end portion to flow radially into engagement with said wall surfaces, at least the final portion of the formation of said intermediate head being accomplised by said endwise pressure extending substantially completcly across said polygonal die and causing material engaging said wall surfaces to slide therealong, whereby friction resisting such sliding results in a maximum pressure at the end surface of said intermediate head remote from said work-receiving die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners of said intermediate head adjacent said end face, and thereafter, without intermediate upsetting and while said stock remains in said work-receiving die without rotation of such stock about its longitudinal axis, upsetting said intermediate head in a second polygonal die cavity having a uniform cross-section greater than the cross-section of said intermediate head and corners aligned with the corners of 'said intermediate head, all surfaces of said polygonal die cavity moving as a unit relative to said work-receiving die during the upsetting therein, the upsetting in said second polygonal die cans; ing material of said intermediate head to flow radially into engagement with the side wall surfaces of said second polygonal die cavity, the friction of engagement of such material and the side walls of said second polygonal die cavity urging material movement toward said work-receiving die and producing a maximum pressureat the side of the upset adjacent said work-receiving die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners at the end of the upset portion adjacent said work-receiving die.

4. A method of cold heading bolt blanks comprising positioning a cylindrical piece of stock in a work-receiving die having a shallow circular recess at one face with an end portion projecting from said face, laterally confining said end portion in a uniform cross-sectional polygonal die cavity having wall surfaces, and while said end portion is so confined applying endwise pressure thereto upsetting such end portion to an intermediate polygonal head having a shape substantially the same as the polygonal die cavity, said wall surfaces being held stationary with respect to said work-receiving die during at least the final portion of the upsetting, said upsetting causing material in said end portion to flow radially into engagement with said wall surfaces, at least the final portion of the formation of said intermediate head being accomplished by said endwise pressure extending substantially completely across said polygonal die and causing material engaging said wall surfaces to slide therealong, whereby friction resisting such sliding results in a maximum pressure at the end surface of said intermediate head remote from said work-receiving die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners of said intermediate head adjacent said end face, and thereafter, without intermediate upsetting and while said stock remains in said Work-re ceiving die without rotation of such stock about its longitudinal axis, upsetting said intermediate head in a second polygonal die cavity having a uniform cross-section greater than the cross-section of said intermediate head, all surfaces of said polygonal die cavity moving as a unit relative to said work-receiving die during the upsetting therein, the upsetting in said second polygonal die caus ing material of said intermediate head to flow radially into engagement with the side wall surfaces of said second polygonal die cavity, the friction of engagement of such material and the side walls of said second polygonal die cavity urging material movement toward said work-receiving die and producing a maximum pressure at the side of the upset adjacent said work-receiving die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners at the end of the upset portion adjacent said work-receiving die, said endwise pressure forming a circular projection in said circular recess.

5. A method of cold heading bolt blanks comprising positioning a cylindrical piece of stock in a work-receiving die with an end portion projecting from the end thereof, laterally confining said end portion in a uniform crosssectional polygonal die cavity having wall surfaces, and while said end portion is so confined applying endwise pressure thereto upsetting such end portion to an intermediate polygonal head having a shape substantially the same as the polygonal die cavity, said wall surfaces extending to said work-receiving die and being held stationary with respect to said work-receiving die during at least the final portion of the upsetting providing complete confinement of said end portion adjacent said workreceiving die, said upsetting causing material in said end portion to flow radially into engagement with said wall surfaces, at least the final portion of the formation of said intermediate head being accomplished by said endlwise pressure extending substantially completely across said polygonal die and while said wall surfaces and holding die provide said complete confinement, and thereafter, without intermediate upsetting and while said stock remains in said work-receiving die without rotation of such stock about its longitudinal axis, upsetting said intermediate head in a second polygonal die cavity having a uniform cross-section greater than the crosssection of said intermediate head and corners aligned with the corners of said intermediate head, all surfaces of said polygonal die cavity moving as a unit relative to said work-receiving die during the upsetting therein, the upsetting in said second polygonal die causing material of said intermediate head to fiow radially into engagement with the side wall surfaces of said second polygonal die cavity and producing substantially complete filling of said second polygonal die including substantially complete filling of thecorners at the end of the upset portion adjacent said work-receiving die.

6. A method of cold heading bolt blanks comprising positioning a cylindrical piece of stock in a work-receiving die with an end portion projecting from the end thereof and extruding a portion of pieces of stock within said die to a smaller diameter, laterally confining said end portion in a uniform cross-sectional polygonal die cavity having wall surfaces, and while said end portion is so confined applying endwise pressure thereto upsetting such end portion to an intermediate polygonal head having a shape substantially the same as the polygonal die cavity, said wall surfaces extending to said workreceiving die and being held stationary with respect thereto during at least the final portion of the upsetting providing complete confinement of said end portion adjacent said work-receiving die, said upsetting causing material in said end portion to flow radially into engagement with said wall surfaces, at least the final portion of the formation of said intermediate head being accomplished by said endwise pressure extending substantially completely across said polygonal die, and thereafter, without intermediate upsetting and while said stock remains in said work-receiving die without rotation of such stock about its longitudinal axis, upsetting said intermediate head in a second polygonal die cavity having a uniform crosssection greater than the cross-section of said intermediate head and corners aligned with the corners of said intermediate head, all surfaces of said polygonal die cavity moving as a unit relative to said work-receiving die during the upsetting therein, the upsetting in said second polygonal die causing material of said intermediate head to flow radially into engagement with the side wall surfaces of said second polygonal die cavity filling said second polygonal die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners at the end of the upset portion adjacent said work-receiving die.

7. A method of cold heading bolt blanks comprising positioning a cylindrical piece of stock in a work-receiving die having a shallow circular recess at one face with an end portion projecting from said face, laterally confining said end portion in a uniform cross-sectional polygonal die cavity having wall surfaces, and While said end portion is so confined applying endwise pressure thereto upsetting such end portion to an intermediate polygonal head having a shape substantially the same as the polygonal die cavity, said wall surfaces extending to said workreceivng die and being held stationary with respect thereto during at least the final portion of the upsetting providing complete confinement of said end portion adjacent said work-receiving die, said upsetting causing material in said end portion to flow radially into engagement with said Wall surfaces, at least the final portion of the formation of said intermediate head being accomplished by said endwise pressure extending substantially completely across said polygonal die and producing substantially complete filling of the corners of said intermediate head adjacent said end face, and thereafter, Without intermediate upsetting and while said stock remains in said workreceiving die without rotation of such stock about its longitudinal axis, upsetting said intermediate head in a second polygonal die cavity having a uniform cross-section greater than the cross-section of said intermediate head and corners aligned With the corners of said intermediate head, all surfaces of said polygonal die cavity moving as a unit relative to said Work-receiving die during the upsetting therein, the upsetting in said second polygonal die causing material of said intermediate head to flow radially into engagement with the side Wall surfaces of said second polygonal die cavity and producing substantially complete filling of the corners at the end of the upset portion adjacent said Work-receiving die, said endwise pressure forming a circular projection in said circular recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,082 /1912 Duston -26 1,168,855 1/1916 Blakeslee 10-26 1,617,122 2/1927 Kaufman 10-27 1,778,562 10/1930 Noble 10-27 1,900,572 3/1933 Lyman 1012.5 2,165,424 7/1939 Tomalis 10-24 2,202,324 5/1940 Tomalis 10-27 2,341,469 2/1944 Newall 10-27 2,593,126 4/1952 Estok 10-12.5 2,799,027 7/1957 Hatebur 10-27 3,088,140 5/1963 Carlson.

OTHER REFERENCES American Machinist (Linsley) Apr. 8, 1948, 10-27,

(pages 1 relied on).

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF COLD HEATING BOLT BLANKS COMPRISING POSITIONING A CYLINDRICAL PIERCE OF STOCK IN A WORK-RECEIVING DIE WITH AN END PORTION PROJECTING FROM THE END THEREOF, LATERALLY CONFINING SAID END PORTION IN A UNIFORM CROSSSECTIONAL POLYGONAL DIE CAVITY HAVING WALL SURFACES, LATERALLY SUPPORTING THE FREE END OF SAID STOCK AND APPLYING ENDWISE PRESSURE THERETO WITH A TOOL HAVING AN END FACE WITH A POLYGONAL PERIPHERY CLOSELY FITTING SAID DIE CAVITY AND A CENTRALLY LOCATED AXIALLY EXTENDING RECESS UPSETTING SUCH END PORTION TO AN INTERMEDIATE POLYGONAL HEAD HAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE POLYGONAL DIE CAVITY, SHARPLY FILLING THE CORNERS ADJACENT TO THE END FACE THEREOF AND A PROJECTION ON THE END FACE THEREOF, SAID WALL SURFACES BEING HELD STATIONARY WITH RESPECT TO SAID WORK-RECEIVING DIE DURING AT LEAST THE FINAL PORTION OF THE UPSETTING, AND THEREAFTER. WITHOUT INTERMEDIATE UPSETTING AND WHILE SAID STOCK REMAINS IN SAID WORK-RECEIVING DIE WITHOUT ROTATION OF SUCHSTOCK ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, UPSETTING SAID INTERMEDIATE HEAD IN A SECOND POLYGONAL DIE CAVITY HAVING A UNIFORM CROSS-SECTION GREATER THAN THE CROSS-SECTION OF SAID INTERMEDIATE HEAD AND CORNERS ALIGNED WITH THE CORNERS OF SAID INTERMEDIATE HEAD THEREBY FORMING A FINISHED HEAD, ALL SURFACES OF SAID SECOND POLYGONAL DIE CAVITY MOVING AS A UNIT RELATIVE TO SAID WORK-RECEIVING DIE DURING THE UPSETTING THEREIN, THE MATERIAL OF SAID PORJECTION BEING PRESSED INTO SAID FINISHED HEAD FORMING A RELATIVELY FLAT END THEREON BY THE WALLS OF SAID SECOND POLYGONAL DIE CAVITY. 